Connections Academy Blog, Virtual Learning Connections

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a high school student in an online school?  The best way to find an answer is to go to the source.  Hannah Berquist has been kind enough to share her thoughts on the experience and a few of the surprises she had along the way!

Hannah Bergquist, MTS Minnesota Connections Academy High School Graduate 2010

Like many seniors across the state, I am celebrating the completion of high school and looking forward to beginning college next fall. However, my route to graduation was somewhat nonstandard. I completed my freshman year as a traditional high school student and to all outward appearances was very successful. I was involved in choir, made the junior varsity tennis team and doing well academically. Yet, over the course of the school year I had become increasingly frustrated with several things. First, despite having good grades, I all too often left my classes feeling confused about the homework making it difficult to complete. I often felt as if I was teaching the material to myself or relying on help from my parents. Second, the lack of discipline in all too many of my classrooms made it difficult to learn or enjoy the class time. Third, I was frustrated by not having as much free time as I would have liked in order to pursue other interests. This led to my decision to pursue other alternatives for completing my high school education

With help from my parents, I settled ...

My kids are great procrastinators because I've taught them well. Right now, I'm staring at a 43 pound suitcase filled with years of good intentions. It's filled with photos, news clippings, programs from dance recitals and awards my kids have received. I would love to have these items organized into easy to view photo albums or scanned into digital albums, but it's easier to come up with reasons why I can't do it, such as, "I don't have time", "I want this to be a family project", or my favorite, "They’re safer in the suitcase because I can grab it quickly in case of a fire."

Procrastination for virtual school students comes in many shapes and sizes. I see procrastination typically rear its ugly head during lessons that my students are working on independently. A little procrastination is something we are all guilty of every now and then. When it happens regularly, though, it presents a real challenge. Throughout this month I will be writing about different reasons I think most students procrastinate and offering my suggestions for what you can do about it.

One reason why our students procrastinate is due to weak study habits.

I can usually spot when this is the problem because it sounds like this: (in a whiny tone)

"I can't do this" , "It's too hard", "This wasn't in the lesson", "It's boring", "I don't understand it".

So what is the first line of defense for this? Watch your student study a complete ...

One of the many comments on the post "Answering the Socialization Question" raised by Steph C. warrants it's own post. Here's the issue that was raised: 

Steph C asks: "Can anyone please address the concern that has been voiced to me by my father... that it is beneficial to remain in a bricks and mortar school because it promotes learning about how to deal with mean people who will be forever present in life, beyond the school environment?  Do the sheltered, home-schooled children learn how to skirt left-handed and under-handed social attacks, remarks, social power plays, and the maneuvering of cliches (cliques) of people against an individual?  These activities do repeat in the workplace and in other environments of adult life.

If the children are not provided with the examples and experiences that are given in the brick and mortar school social microcosm, then how do they develop coping techniques for their adult lives?  This is a concern of mine.  This is an aspect of socialization that has not been addressed on this page.  It has only been referred to as "negative socialization" without addressing the benefit of learning how to deal with it.

Any remarks?  Can someone please help me come to terms with this issue? Thank you for your help!"

Steph C raises an important question, and one that I have had asked of me, as a parent of homeschooled and virtual schooled children. In answering your question, first, I'll assume that you don't mean kids ...